What’s new

Refreshed repertoire lists for all string instruments, featuring a wide breadth of music and composers

Violin:

• Repertoire extended to 39 pieces per grade
• 70% of the 2020-2023 repertoire retained (21 pieces per grade)
• the content of Violin Exam Pieces fully replaced (9 pieces per grade, Grades 1 to 8)
• new Exam Pack for Initial Grade

Cello:

• Repertoire extended to 39 pieces per grade
• Grades Initial to 5: 70% of the 2020-2023 repertoire retained (21 pieces per grade)
• Grades 6 to 8: all pieces from 2020-2023 syllabus retained
• the content of Cello Exam Pieces fully replaced (9 pieces per grade, Grades 1 to 5)
• new Exam Pack for Initial Grade

Viola and Double Bass:

• new Exam Packs for Initial Grades
• repertoire extended with greater breadth of composers
• the majority of the 2020-2023 Grades 1 to 8 repertoire retained

Validity of syllabuses

Bowed Strings syllabuses from 2024 come into effect on 1 January 2024. This means that:

• candidates can begin to present pieces from the new lists;
• candidates can continue to present pieces from the 2020-2023 syllabus lists during the overlap period (see below).

For Practical Grades, the scales and arpeggios, sight-reading and aural-test requirements remain the same as for the 2020-2023 syllabus.

Syllabus overlap

For candidates wishing to present pieces from the 2020-2023 syllabus lists, a one-year overlap period (up to 31 December 2024) applies in all countries. All three set pieces must be prepared from the same syllabus.

What’s new?

• Refreshed repertoire lists and (for Practical Grades) scales and sight-reading requirements for all instruments and grade
• Repertoire
  • more choice than before, with most instrument lists extended to ten pieces (30 pieces in total per grade)
  • new repertoire combined with some of the most popular pieces retained from the previous syllabus
  • duet option included in the lists for the first time - up to Grade 3
  • revised list structure
    • lists defined by musical characteristics rather than accompanied / solo and period of composition
    • playing unaccompanied no longer a requirement, but is now optional
  • focus on group teaching of mixed-instrument repertoire, with multiple pieces set across the Trumpet, Cornet, Flugelhorn, E Flat Horn, Trombone, Baritone, Euphonium and Tuba lists at Grades 1 to 5.
• Scales [Practical Grades only]
  • a more realistic and manageable assessment load, with a focus on technical development and progression
• Sight-reading [Practical Grades only]
  • revised parameters, such as keys, ranges and lengths to help strengthen progression routes.
  • new tests written in a range of familiar and accessible styles
  • for Horn and Trumpet, a new-style test at Grades 6 to 8 that combines the testing of sight-reading and transposing-at-sight into a single test

Syllabus validity

Brass syllabuses from 2023 come into effect on 1 January 2023. This means that:

• for Performance Grades
  • candidates can begin to present the pieces from the new lists
  • candidates can continue to present the pieces from the preceding syllabus lists during the overlap period (see below)
• for Practical Grades
  • candidates can begin to present the pieces and scales and sight-reading from the new 2023 syllabus
  • candidates can continue to present the pieces and scales and sight-reading from the syllabus during the overlap period (see below)
  • the aural-tests remain unchanged

Syllabus overlap

For candidates wishing to present requirements from the preceding syllabus, a one-year overlap period (up to 31 December 2023) applies in all countries.

All exam requirements must be prepared from the same syllabus.

• for Performance Grades, this means all three set pieces;
• for Practical Grades, this means all three set pieces and scales and sight-reading.

For Practical Grades, candidates must be prepared to tell the examiner which syllabus they have prepared.

What’s new

• Refreshed repertoire lists at all grades
  • 70% of the 2021 & 2022 repertoire retained (21 pieces per grade)
  • the contents of Piano Exam Pieces fully replaced (9 pieces per grade)
  • a further 9 new pieces added per grade
• Greater choice of repertoire than before, with the lists extended to 13 pieces (39 pieces in total per grade) and with music by a more diverse range of composers featured

Validity of syllabuses

Piano 2023 & 2024 Practical and Performance syllabuses come into effect on 1 January 2023. This means that:

• candidates can begin to present pieces from the new lists;
• candidates can continue to present pieces from the 2021 & 2022 syllabus lists during the overlap period (see below).

For Practical Grades, the scales and arpeggios, sight-reading and aural-test requirements remain exactly the same as for the 2021 & 2022 syllabus.

Syllabus overlap

For candidates wishing to present pieces from the 2021 & 2022 syllabus lists, a one-year overlap period (up to 31 December 2023) applies in all countries. All three set pieces must be prepared from the same syllabus.